Lyr Req: The Common Sailor

Subject: Why call us common sailors...
From: GUEST,John Earl
Date: 24 Aug 01 - 03:56 PM

I have a fragmentary song to a haunting tune, collected from a Tyneside singer, which has the refrain:

Then why call us common sailors any more, any more? Why call us common sailors any more? When fine things to you we bring You call us common men But we're just as good as any men ashore

The song opens with a verse set to a different tune which starts:

You gentlemen of Engerland who stay home every night...

but this does not seem to be related to the early C.19 published song 'Gentlemen of England'

Anyone know more?

Subject: ADD: THE COMMON SAILOR^^
From: radriano
Date: 24 Aug 01 - 04:03 PM

The Common Sailor
The Oxford Book of Sea Songs, Roy Palmer, ed.

I am a man before the mast, I plough the trackless sea
And on this simple subject, won't you please enlighten me?
Common sailors we are called, pray tell me the reason why
This sneering adjective unto us which you so often reply

Chorus:
Don't call us common sailors any more, any more
Don't call us common sailors any more
Good things to you we bring, why call us common men?
We're as good as any lubber on the shore

When speaking of a man on shore I never hear you say
He is a common this or that, be his calling what it may
Be he a travelling tinker, a scavenger or sweep
Then why term common unto those who travel on the deep?

For is it not your proudest boast that England rules the waves?
But could you say as much if none its dangers brave?
Among the nations of the world what would old England be
But for those battles dearly won by her children on the sea

How would you get your luxuries, will you just tell to me
Unless these men from foreign lands brought you sugar, coffee and tea?
And when the merry Christmas comes how would your pudding taste
Unless these men from foreign lands brought you spices, fruits and grapes?

Say you are invited to the boons and many more
To the common British sailor that seeks the foreign shore
Young ladies of our country too you should our calling bless
For the foreign silks and satins of which you make your dress

To be admired by gentlemen undoubtfully you do
Then don't despise such gallant men that bring such dainties to you
And lads that like the fragrant weed, while smoking at your ease
Just think upon those sleepless nights we spend upon the seas

And all of you that slight us so I'd have you go and try
One night upon the stormy sea when raging winds are high
Amidst the driving, blinding snow, the pelting hail and rain
It would be a tempting circumstance if they caught you there again

But we ask not for you pity, but give to us our due
Respect us in proportion for the good things that we do
And the good things that you ask us for we will faithfully procure
It shall be brought without delay unto your very door

Excuse our little awkwardness, we are not perfect, quite
Our heads, I own, are sometimes wrong, but I hope our hearts are right
I hope the time will soon be past
When folks on shore despise a man who sails before the mast

And lastly this wholesome track by nobody be forgot
With lords and dukes and all the highest folds must share our common lot
^^

Subject: RE: Why call us common sailors...
From: nutty
Date: 24 Aug 01 - 04:05 PM

I'm sure the "common sailors" quote comes from a Tom Lewis song but I'm not sure which one.

Subject: RE: Why call us common sailors...
From: nutty
Date: 24 Aug 01 - 04:14 PM

Here's the Tom Lewis song ..... now I know where he got the quote from *GRIN*

SIRENSONG

Subject: RE: Why call us common sailors...
From: Joe Offer
Date: 24 Aug 01 - 04:20 PM

If somebody has the Oxford Book of Sea Songs and Noteworthy Composer, I'd surely like a transription of the tune. Otherwise, I'll get around to transcribing it sooner or later. The tune may be in one of Hugill's books, too.
-Joe Offer (click to e-mail)-

Subject: RE: Why call us common sailors...
From: nutty
Date: 24 Aug 01 - 04:31 PM

And here is a Bodleian Broadside printed around 1700 of YOU GENTLEMEN OF ENGLAND>

Just click on the magnifying glass to enlarge the image

Subject: RE: Why call us common sailors...
From: radriano
Date: 24 Aug 01 - 04:39 PM

Hi Joe,

I'll ABC "The Common Sailor" tonight and then make a MIDI file which, I believe, I should be able to import into NOTEWORTHY.

Richard

Subject: RE: Why call us common sailors...
From: Marymac90
Date: 24 Aug 01 - 05:42 PM

Mmmmmm, Tom Lewis is one of my favorite songwritiers and performers... I love "A Sailor ain't a Sailor" and many other of his songs.

Subject: RE: Why call us common sailors...
From: MMario
Date: 24 Aug 01 - 09:54 PM

Richard - do you have the ABC 2 Noteworthy converter?

Subject: Lyr Add: THE COMMON SAILOR (from Genevieve Lehr)
From: GutBucketeer
Date: 25 Aug 01 - 12:02 AM

This is one of the songs I "sing".

I found it in "Come and I will sing you: A Newfoundland Songbook" Edited by Genevieve Lehr 1985.

She quotes as being published also in Manavilins by Rex Clements. She also states that Clements reports that there were many many verses, but Lehr doesn't list them.

It is also recorded on "Sea Shanties and Sailor Songs: Classics from the Great Days of Sail 1840-1890, Where am I to go" by the Shanty Crew

Here is Lehr's version:

I am a man before the mast, that ploughs the raging sea
And on this simple subject, won't you please enlighten me?
Common sailors we are called, pray tell me the reason why
and on this simple subject I'll reply

Chorus:
Don't call us common sailors any more, any more
Don't call us common sailors any more
Good things to you we bring, don't you call us common men?
We're as good as anybody that's on shore.

The young girls of this country, their growing days we bless
We brings them silks and satins out of which they makes a dress;
To gain the heart of some young man as fancy dresses do-
Don't never despise the sailor boys that sails the ocean blue.

Chorus

The young gents of this country they're sitting at their ease
Not thinking of the stormy nights that we spent on the seas;
We brings the leaves to make cigars to deccorate their face -
They wouldn't call us common if they were sometimes in our place.

Chorus

I usually add this verse at the end from Clements:
When speakng of a man ashore we never hear you say
He's a "common" this or a "common" that, be his calling what it may;
Be he atravelling tinker, or a scavenger, or a sweep,
Then why call us "common" sailors who battle with the deep

Chorus

I have put Lehr's version in Midi format which is the next message.

JAB

Subject: Tune Add: THE COMMON SAILOR (from Genevieve Lehr)
From: GutBucketeer
Date: 25 Aug 01 - 12:05 AM

The text of another version very close to Lehr's is also at:

http://www.ucs.mun.ca/~andrew/shanty/common

From G. Lehr 1985 (see above)

MIDI file: COMNSLR.MID

Timebase: 240

TimeSig: 2/4 24 8
Tempo: 176 (340909 microsec/crotchet)
Start
0000 1 65 080 0288 0 65 064 0072 1 65 080 0096 0 65 064 0024 1 58 080 0192 0 58 064 0048 1 58 080 0192 0 58 064 0048 1 58 080 0192 0 58 064 0048 1 62 080 0192 0 62 064 0048 1 65 080 0576 0 65 064 0144 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 67 080 0288 0 67 064 0072 1 63 080 0096 0 63 064 0024 1 63 080 0192 0 63 064 0048 1 63 080 0192 0 63 064 0048 1 63 080 0576 0 63 064 0144 1 62 080 0192 0 62 064 0048 1 60 080 0192 0 60 064 0048 1 60 080 0192 0 60 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 67 080 0192 0 67 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 63 080 0192 0 63 064 0048 1 62 080 0192 0 62 064 0048 1 60 080 0192 0 60 064 0048 1 62 080 0192 0 62 064 0048 1 63 080 0192 0 63 064 0048 1 65 080 1410 0 65 064 0030 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 62 080 0192 0 62 064 0048 1 62 080 0192 0 62 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 70 080 0576 0 70 064 0144 1 62 080 0192 0 62 064 0048 1 62 080 0192 0 62 064 0048 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 62 080 0096 0 62 064 0024 1 63 080 0192 0 63 064 0048 1 62 080 0192 0 62 064 0048 1 60 080 0576 0 60 064 0144 1 70 080 0192 0 70 064 0048 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 67 080 0192 0 67 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 63 080 0192 0 63 064 0048 1 62 080 0192 0 62 064 0048 1 58 080 0192 0 58 064 0048 1 62 080 0192 0 62 064 0048 1 60 080 0192 0 60 064 0048 1 58 080 1344 0 58 064 0096 1 62 080 0192 0 62 064 0048 1 63 080 0192 0 63 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 62 080 0192 0 62 064 0048 1 63 080 0192 0 63 064 0048 1 62 080 0192 0 62 064 0048 1 60 080 1344 0 60 064 0096 1 60 080 0192 0 60 064 0048 1 62 080 0192 0 62 064 0048 1 63 080 0192 0 63 064 0048 1 63 080 0192 0 63 064 0048 1 63 080 0192 0 63 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 67 080 0192 0 67 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 63 080 0192 0 63 064 0048 1 62 080 1536 0 62 064 0144 1 63 080 0192 0 63 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 70 080 0384 0 70 064 0096 1 63 080 0192 0 63 064 0048 1 62 080 0192 0 62 064 0048 1 62 080 0192 0 62 064 0048 1 62 080 0192 0 62 064 0048 1 63 080 0192 0 63 064 0048 1 62 080 0192 0 62 064 0048 1 60 080 0384 0 60 064 0096 1 70 080 0192 0 70 064 0048 1 70 080 0192 0 70 064 0048 1 69 080 0192 0 69 064 0048 1 67 080 0192 0 67 064 0048 1 65 080 0192 0 65 064 0048 1 63 080 0192 0 63 064 0048 1 62 080 0192 0 62 064 0048 1 58 080 0192 0 58 064 0048 1 62 080 0192 0 62 064 0048 1 60 080 0192 0 60 064 0048 1 58 080 1344 0 58 064
End

This program is worth the effort of learning it.

To download the March 10 MIDItext 98 software and get instructions on how to use it click here

ABC format:

X:1
T:
M:4/4
Q:1/4=176
K:C
F3F^A,2^A,2|^A,2D2F4|-F2F2G3^D|^D2^D2^D4|
-^D2D2C2C2|F2F2A2G2|F2^D2D2C2|D2^D2F4|-F8|
F8|-F2F2D2D2|F2F2^A4|-^A2D2D2DD|^D2D2C4|-C2^A2A2G2|
F2^D2D2^A,2|D2C2^A,4|-^A,8|D8|-D2^D2F2F2|
F2F2A2D2|^D2D2C4|-C8|C8|-C2D2^D2^D2|^D2F2A2G2|
F2^D2D4|-D8|D2^D6|-^D4F2F2|F2F2^A4|^D2D2D2D2|
^D2D2C4|^A2^A2A2G2|F2^D2D2^A,2|D2C2^A,4|-^A,29/4||

Subject: RE: Why call us common sailors...
From: GutBucketeer
Date: 25 Aug 01 - 12:17 AM

Also, I'll be at the Getaway, and would love to hear how others sing this song. The only versions I have ever experienced are how I sing it, and how the Shanty Crew sings it on their CD (see above).

JAB

Subject: RE: Why call us common sailors...
From: Glee
Date: 25 Aug 01 - 11:59 AM

Many thanks for so many helpful early responses and particularly for the reference to the Oxford, which I should have turned to first. This is clearly another and very full version of the song which I have just a small part of. I have also just noticed that Stan Hugill quotes one verse in 'Shanties and Sailor Songs'. My introductory verse (which varied a bit in performance when it was handed on to me) may be worth quoting in full:

You gentlemen of Engerland, you stay home every night,
Sitting by your fireside and smoking your long pipe,
While us poor lads go out to sea, exposed to wind and rain,
And never know when we go out if we'll return again.
Then why call us common sailors any more?...etc.

This seems to contain a distant memory of a song which appears in one printed version (which I have) as a glee, attributed to J W Callcott called 'You Gentlemen of England or The New Mariners'. This was published by Bown in London, in or shortly after 1818, but there are much earlier versions in print. Callcott (he d.1821) also did glee settings for 'As I Was Going to Derby' and 'To all You Ladies Now on Land'. The glee tune is quite different from the one I have, but the words of the first verse are:

You gentlemen of England that live at home at ease,
Ah, little do you think upon the dangers of the seas.
Give ear unto the mariners and they will plainly show
All the cares and the fears (rpt twice)
When the stormy winds do blow. (rpt twice)

Interesting, isn't it, that England should ever have been known as a land without song, when so many of the songs heard on the stage, in the catch and glee clubs and in the tavern concerts, especially in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, were, effectively, 'collected' and remoulded! I think the word 'adjective' in the first verse of the Oxford text shows that it was a two-way tradce.

John E

Subject: RE: Why call us common sailors...
From: Charley Noble
Date: 25 Aug 01 - 12:03 PM

Good work!

Subject: RE: Why call us common sailors...
From: MMario
Date: 24 May 02 - 03:20 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Why call us common sailors...
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 24 May 02 - 04:25 PM

Radiano, did the Oxford book mention any author for "The Common Sailor," or is it Anon.?

Subject: RE: Why call us common sailors...
From: radriano
Date: 24 May 02 - 05:38 PM

Hi Dicho,

I'll have to check when I get home tonight.

I only have e-mail at work so I won't post an answer before Tuesday (May 28, 2002).

Regards,
Richard

Subject: RE: Why call us common sailors...
From: greg stephens
Date: 24 May 02 - 06:04 PM

Shame, I thought this thread was going to be someone talking about the Boat Band

Subject: RE: Why call us common sailors...
From: Billy Weeks
Date: 10 Nov 03 - 07:35 AM

Refresh

Subject: RE: Why call us common sailors...
From: GUEST,Lighter
Date: 10 Nov 03 - 07:44 AM

Stan Hugill sang this song at Mystic Seaport in 1988 or '89. He said he learned it from his father.

Subject: RE: Why call us common sailors...
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 10 Nov 03 - 11:44 AM

Since this thread has re-emerged, I'll just add the omitted source information from Roy Palmer's Oxford Book of Sea Songs (see Radriano's post for text).

Text: from Richard Cotten's notebook. Cotten served as a seaman on HMS Comus, 1879-84, then as a gunner on HMS Bacchante. He bought the notebook at Callao in June 1883, and copied over 30 texts into it; a mixture of poems and songs (some perhaps written by himself).

Tune and chorus: from Stan Hugill (learned from his father).

The song is no. 16880 in the Roud Folk Song Index.